When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical attention

Have someone drive you to urgent care or the emergency room if you develop:

A significant amount of rectal bleeding or bleeding that won't stop, particularly if accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness or feeling faint

Anal pain that gets much worse, spreads or is accompanied by fever, chills or anal discharge

Schedule a doctor's visit

Make an appointment with your doctor if your pain lasts more than a few days and self-care remedies aren't helping.

A hemorrhoid that develops quickly or is particularly painful may have formed a blood clot inside (thrombosed). Removing the clot within the first 48 hours often gives the most relief, so request a timely appointment with your doctor. The blood clot of a thrombosed hemorrhoid, although painful, can't break loose and travel, so it won't cause any of the complications — such as stroke — associated with blood clots that form in other parts of the body.

See your doctor for rectal bleeding, particularly if you're older than 40, to rule out rare, but serious, conditions, such as colon cancer.

Self-care

Depending on the cause of your anal pain, there are some measures you can try at home to get relief. They include:

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